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US NAICS 45421 | Industry Report

Vending Machine Operators in the US Industry Data and Analysis

MB
Matthew Buchko
Analyst New York, United States September 2025

Vending machine operators stock and maintain vending machines that sell everything from snacks and soft drinks to technology and hand sanitizer. Because of the breadth of products sold in these machines, these businesses cater to a variety of markets, which limits volatility to a degree. Despite a rapid recovery in 2023, revenue has not returned to pre-pandemic levels after slumping between 2020 and 2022, including a dip of 23.1% in 2022 alone. Consumer behavior has been altered and customers have become less willing to pay the premium for food and beverages from vending machines. More consumers are familiarizing themselves with loyalty programs and online coupons from large retailers and food service establishments, slashing sales at vending machines. Revenue for vending machine operators is expected to slump at a CAGR of 0.3% to $7.7 billion through the end of 2025, with a dip of 1.3% in 2025. Changing product mixes and higher supplier prices have also pressured profit.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 45421. Vending machine operators provide and service automated machines that sell merchandise – primarily snack foods and soft drinks, but also cigarettes, ice cream, newspapers and other goods. This industry does not include revenue from soft drink producers that operate their own vending machines. Related terms covered in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States include convenience store, franchise, remote monitoring system and micromarket.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States include Candy, Food and snacks and Hot beverages and other products.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States include Compass Group Plc and Aramark Corp.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States is $7.7bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 15,867 businesses in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States?

The Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States?

The Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States are Compass Group Plc and Aramark Corp

What does the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States include?

Retail sale of cold beverages via vending machines and Retail sale of hot beverages and other products via vending machines are part of the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States?

The company holding the most market share in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States is Compass Group Plc.

How competitive is the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Vending Machine Operators industry in the United States.

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